“Haha, you still think you're some high and mighty princess? Now that it’s come to this, we will kill you today!” the black-clad figures jeered as they swung their weapons.

In an instant, one of them pierced the middle-aged man who had been protecting Renee, driving the weapon straight through his ribs. The man collapsed to the ground, and his blood dyed the ground beneath him red. It was a gruesome sight.

Renee hadn’t expected that her last remaining ally would also fall. Despair filled her e